Canada West advanced to the final of the World Junior A Challenge with a convincing 4-1 victory over Belarus last night.

The Canadians will face Team USA tonight at 6 in the final at the EnCana Arena.

The U.S. defeated Canada East 5-1 earlier in the day to earn a place in the gold-medal game.

FORTUNATE

"I didn't think we were very sharp, in the first period especially," said Canada West head coach Boris Rybalka. "I thought we were fortunate to have that one-goal lead at the end of the first period."

Canada West scored three power-play goals in the victory, two of which came on five-on-three advantages, giving them eight power-play goals in their last two games.

"It's starting to come along now," said Brodie Reid, who led the way for Canada West with a pair of goals.

"At first we were having trouble with it, but now it's starting to roll and goals are coming."

Reid opened the scoring with the only goal in the first period. In the second, Mikalali Susla tied the game as his shot found room through goaltender Kevin Genoe's pads and just trickled over the goal line.

TIPPED

Later in the period, Dylan Olsen's point shot was tipped by Reid and past Belarusian goaltender Vitali Bialinski giving the Canadians the lead. It was one they extended before the end of the period through Cole Wilson.

In the third, Denver Manderson added the fourth on another two-man advantage.

Canada West is the two-time defending champions of the event. On both occasions they defeated Canada East in the final.

"The U.S. are big, they're strong, they're good," Rybalka said. "We know we're going to have to be smart, we're going to have to by physical on them. It's going to take good teamwork to beat them."